Ophelia

Ophelia (KH)

Torties have a reputation for sass, for unpredictability; the saying is that “people have attitude, cats have cattitude, and torties have tortitude”. And we’ve certainly had our share of the latter: sassy Lunette, who was known as “lunatic” in her early days with us; Princess, who has been with us for more than 4 years, and has only recently started being touchable; bossy Gwen who now loves people but still hates cats – and before them, Treacle, Emily and others.  But we’ve also had our share of gentle, sweet torties: Blaze and Toes, Chelsea, Beans – and, for RAPS old-timers, our beloved Daisy, who loved everyone. So when a new tortie arrives, it’s always interesting to know where she’s going to be on the tortietude scale.

Ophelia loves people  (KN)

Ophelia came to us from out-of-province; our primary ties are with BC’s rescues, but good work is happening everywhere, and sometimes we are the best solution to a problem that, in another jurisdiction, could end in so-called euthanasia. Our contacts here were with the Canadian Animal Task Force (CATF) in Calgary which works with Alberta rescues, shelters and Indigenous communities, with a focus on spay/neuter for both dogs and cats. It was from them, in 2021, that we took in the colony that is still based in Pen 3 – Cornelius, William Shakespurr, Jenkins and the rest of that formerly hoarded group. And we were the ones they called when Ophelia came into their hands.

Wand toys are the best!  (KH)

She is still a youngster – probably around 2 years old – but she has a variety of health issues. She’s theoretically a semiferal, but definitely on the tamer end of the spectrum, and it was decided to place her in the SingleWide where her health could be monitored. She has plasma cell pododermatitis, more commonly known as pillowfoot – puffy, swollen paw-pads. It is thought that it’s an immune system condition, and we’ve seen in before in FIV cats. Auto-immune diseases can throw up a variety of problems, and Ophelia also has occasional inflammation of genitals and problems with her eyes that require eye-drops.  She was fostered by a volunteer for a while, but you can’t explain the necessity for giving eye-drops to a cat, and she was so hard to medicate that it was decided to return her to us, where two pairs of experienced hands could combine to treat her more easily.

Ophelia and Oscar (AA)

Ophelia is very happy with her situation (other than the eyedrops). Her inner kitten is still present, and she loves to play. Even more, she loves having companions. Her companions are not so sure about this!  Oscar is a dignified cat, and it’s beneath his dignity to play, but Ophelia persists in flirting with him until his patience ends and he takes himself out of the way.  

Sharing space with Winston (KH)

She’s also tried it with floofy Winston, but he’s better at removing himself. Black Polar is closer to her age, and more willing to engage; they both love wand toys and will take turns without aggression. Texan Syd will join in, but can get a little carried away; he doesn’t know his own strength.

Loves her lap-time (KH)

Ophelia also loves her humans; she’s often the greeter at the door, and looking for attention. She’s a lap-sitter and a neck-snuggler; one of the joys of working in the SingleWide is the chance to sit when all is done (and sometimes before it’s done!) and have cuddles with cats. There are several of them who will claim lap-time, and Ophelia has added herself to the list. The happier she is with being handled, the easier it is for the med-staff to give her the necessary care, so we all do our part!

Playtime with Polar (AA)

We’re the perfect place for her to land; all the necessary medical care, boyfriends to play with, humans for attention all day, every day. Cat heaven for Ophelia... 

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Alicia Almeida, Kim Howe, Bev Johnston, Karen Nicholson

Christmas with the Cats

Nikki on his Christmas throne  (KN)

Christmas is just another day at the Sanctuary - all the usual stuff still needs to be done! 

Cat-wreath in the entry-way   (BC)

In the last month, Karen has put decorations up, hung the lights, put a tree safely behind cage-wire, and the RAPS stockings are on the gate, safely out of reach of inquisitive paws. Weekend visitors have enjoyed the sight; staff and volunteers have shifts made more fun with extra goodies in the tea-room. 

Oscar says "Can I tap it with my paw?"  (KN)

The cats don’t care whether it’s Christmas or Hanukah or Kwanzaa – all they want is to know that they will have food at the right times, and comfy places to rest. That’s made a little trickier by the fact that volunteers may be away, or have schedule conflicts, and suddenly there’s nobody to clean in one area or feed in another.

people step up to fill vacancies  (BC)

The Auxiliaries respond – an app lets us know there’s a vacancy, and more often than not, someone volunteers to come in and cover things. In fact, on Christmas Day, quite often there are more volunteers than usual, and extra hands make the work go quickly.

Gathered for cat-caroling  (BM)

My own choir has a tradition of caroling visits to the Food Bank (for clients and volunteers) and to the Hospice (for staff and patients). But we always begin our morning at the Sanctuary, gathering in the back courtyard with any volunteers around, to sing carols both traditional and fun: parodies of well-known songs with cat-words. 

Sing "We three cats", please!  (KN)

Bentley LOVES the singing, and wants in on the action; Junji is busy getting under everyone’s feet.

"You can sing and pet me at the same time!  (KN)

I came in on Christmas Eve to clean the Hill House; with a wet morning, most of the cats prefer to stay indoors, so it was mostly a case of cleaning around them. With a temporary church job, I had to work in the evening and the following morning, but I’ll be back during the late afternoon of Christmas Day to help out as needed with feeds – and to enjoy a Christmas cuddle with some of my favourites!

Abby thinks the tree is a great place to hide   (KN)

The holidays are an occasion to be grateful for all the people whose generosity in time and money helps to support this very special place, and to give the cats the gift of life and love in a world that is hard on homeless felines. 

Winston thinks it should smell more like catnip...  (KN)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Bill Meyer & Karen Nicholson

Floof or not floof...?

Winston's new look  (KH)

When Oscar and Winston came to the Sanctuary late last year, they had been surrendered to us for peeing problems – which our vets diagnosed as idiopathic cystitis. A period in a cage on a special diet was followed by release in the SingleWide, and no signs of stress that might provoke another flare-up.

Oscar & Winston out and about together (KH)

We hoped that they might settle down to an adoptable extent, but it appears that one or both of them still love to leave their signature as soon as a determined volunteer or staff member has scrubbed crucial corners down – those places cannot be left pee-free, and our boys are right on the spot to deliver!  We have had several cats who have been surrendered for bad bathroom habits that have probably been stress-related (think: a new baby, a noisy dog next door, family violence) and have shown no sign of it when with us, but when the habit continues, it’s more habit than stress. 

Looking alike, after their early shave cuts   (KH)

So Oscar and Winston have become permanent residents of the SingleWide.  When they first arrived they had had a pretty major shave in order to deal with an infestation of fleas, and they were both obviously embarrassed by their nakedness. But a nice warm cage in the office, and a procession of visitors to make a fuss of them did much to make them feel better about things, and eventually they were released to have the run of the building.

Oscar  (KN)

We tend to speak of them as brothers, but in fact Oscar is a British Shorthair, and Winston is a British Longhair. From his admission pic, we had an idea of how his fur would grow, but it felt like it had a mind of its own – over the past six months it grew and grew... Oscar recovered his fuzz and looked very teddy-bear-ish, but Winston seemed to get larger...    

(KH)

and larger...

(KH)

Cats with Persian genes – and there’s certainly Persian in a British Longhair – need regular grooming, and as the Sanctuary Salon blog illustrated, we don’t have enough groomers to stay on top of all the matting that goes on.  Winston looked wonderful, but under all the floof there were some nasty mats, and he was not happy about having them dealt with – so he was one of the cats who went to the hospital to have a complete lion-cut.

Posing...  (KH)

It’s obvious that he really approves!  From a cat who preferred lying around like a large dust-bunny, Winston has become active and enthusiastic about exploring – he can be found climbing on top of the cages more than being tucked in his favourite cat-retreat.  As the weather cools, he’s not affected – he can stay in the warmth, or venture out on the deck for a little fresh air, as he pleases.

Pre-cut, and still well-furred  (KH)

Unlike his initial get-rid-of-those-fleas cut, when everything came off, he has the classic lion-cut, so his wonderful head floof is still in place, and his legs sport home-grown Uggs – not quite the same length, but I don’t think he’s too concerned about fashion.  What does concern him is that he feels light and mobile again, and obviously enjoys the attention the new look has brought him.

Winston at optimal fur-length   (KN)

We're going to have to keep a close eye on him and give him a trim more frequently - perhaps find someplace between the extremes he's lived with this year.

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Kim Howe & Karen Nicholson

Fuzzy Bros

Oscar & Winston   (BC)

What can you do with a couple of British Shorthair and Longhair cats other than give them the very British names of Oscar and Winston?

Oscar and Winston when they arrived at the Sanctuary - 
skinny and shorn...    (BC)

These two came into our care before Christmas. Both came to us having had a short haircut to help deal with a case of fleas, but their fur is growing again, and Winston will soon be the Longhair that originally came to us. They’re probably not purebred – they both have the pushed-in face of a Persian (Winston more than Oscar), but that may be accidental genetics, since the British Longhair is a mix of British Shorthair and Persian. The Persian element may explain the haircut – Persians usually need daily brushing to maintain their fur and discourage matting, and once they mat, all you can do it shave it out!

Oscar is serious, but no grouch....  (KN)

Initially these boys were surrendered to the Adoption Centre in 2022 when their owner passed away, and they were adopted out a month later. Sadly, Oscar started peeing outside the litter box, and with a new baby imminent, the family decided that they couldn’t deal with the problem, and the pair were returned to us. In fact, Oscar was probably in pain and avoiding the litterbox, where he felt the most pain. This is why the experts tell us to get the cat to the vet when there’s a pee-ing-outside-the-box problem – sometimes the reason is physical or situational, and not just the cat being “bad”.

Enjoying outside-cage time   (MW)

Oscar has idiopathic cystitis. “Idiopathic” just means that we don’t know what causes the cystitis flare-up, but low-mineral prescription food will help to prevent formation of crystals or stones, which can increase inflammation. Since they came to us, both Winston and Oscar have been on a prescription diet, and seem to be doing really well.

Winston has amazing poofy feet   (KN)

Oscar is the “blue” brother; he likes to come for petting, but he’s also one of those cats for whom petting leads to “I gotta eat!”, and he heads for the food bowl. Winston is the silver boy; he likes a little lap-time, but prefers to sit beside you to be petted. They're around 9 years old, definitely a bonded pair, and we’re thankful that their former owners recognized the bond and didn’t try to split them up, returning both of them to our care. The two of them were caged in the Single-Wide office initially, but were then moved into one of larger Single-Wide cages, giving them much more room, and more human company.

... and is showing himself to be playful,
now they're out of the cage   (MW)

These sweet boys are very people-friendly. Their breed is known for their easy-going, tolerant nature, stocky bodies and poofy feet! Though Winston is a “Longhair”, in fact the coat is only semi-longhair, but dense; he will need regular grooming to keep the part-Persian coat in good condition. 

Winston's original admission picture;
we can see there's still lots of hair to grow!

Our staff are now working out what will be best for them. They could probably manage on the regular cat food shared by the other Single-Wide cats, but the prescription food is more likely to prevent a recurrence of the cystitis. However, that means keeping them separated from the other cats. Currently they are having out-of-cage visiting time with the other cats, and we’ll see if the evening feed can be kept apart. 

"Don't look now, but she's taking a picture..."  (BC)

What they really need is a home with a cat-savvy owner who can feed them the special diet, and who knows to watch for the signs of trouble and react quickly. That may mean a fosterage situation, or a foster-to-adopt one. If you know anyone looking to bring some feline British aristocracy into their home, please contact our Shelter Manager!

Bonded brothers   (BC)

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright